SURF Strategic Plan · 2021. 1. 5. · SURF Strategic Plan 2021 – 2023 (14th December 2020) 3 | P a g e Executive Summary Survivors Fund (SURF) works to deliver, fundraise and advocate

SURVIVORS FUND (SURF)

STRATEGIC PLAN

2021 – 2023

Last updated: 14th Dec 2020

SURF Strategic Plan 2021 – 2023 (14th December 2020) 2 | P a g e

Contents

Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ 3

1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 4

1.1 Our Vision .............................................................................................................................. 4

1.2 Our Mission ............................................................................................................................ 4

1.3 Our Guiding Principles ........................................................................................................... 4

1.4. Our Key Themes and Targets ............................................................................................... 4

2. Organisational structure .............................................................................................................. 4

2.1. The SURF Strategic Plan ...................................................................................................... 5

3. Factors affecting & influencing SURF's work ............................................................................... 5

3.1 Challenges resulting from genocide ....................................................................................... 6

3.2 Country overview ................................................................................................................... 6

3.3 Economy ................................................................................................................................ 7

3.4 Civil and political rights .......................................................................................................... 8

3.5 Education ............................................................................................................................... 8

3.6 Health .................................................................................................................................... 9

3.7 Social Protection .................................................................................................................. 10

3.8 Trauma and Mental Health ................................................................................................... 11

3.9 Justice ................................................................................................................................. 12

3.10 Genocide Survivors Support and Assistance Fund (FARG) ............................................... 13

4. SURF Partners .......................................................................................................................... 15

5. SURF Projects .......................................................................................................................... 16

5.1 Widowed Survivors Livelihood Development ........................................................................ 16

5.2 Youth Entrepreneurship Training Programme (YETP) and GAERG Innovation Fund ........... 16

5.3 Community Counselling Initiative ......................................................................................... 17

5.4 Livelihood and counselling support to children born of rape ................................................. 17

5.5 Legal and Counselling Helpline ............................................................................................ 18

5.6 Youth Counselling Programme ............................................................................................ 18

5.7 Livestock and Hardship Support Programme ....................................................................... 19

5.8 Reaching Rwanda ................................................................................................................ 19

5.9 Other Projects ...................................................................................................................... 20

6. Strategic Plan ............................................................................................................................ 20

6.1 Overview .............................................................................................................................. 20

6.1.1 Direct support to rebuild lives ............................................................................................ 21

6.1.2 Advocacy and Capacity Building to sustain support .......................................................... 23

7. Programme Delivery ................................................................................................................. 24

8. Communications ....................................................................................................................... 24

9. Development ............................................................................................................................. 25

10. Human Resources .................................................................................................................. 25

11. Finance and Risk Management ............................................................................................... 26

12. Monitoring and Evaluation ....................................................................................................... 26

Appendix 1 .................................................................................................................................... 27


Executive Summary

Survivors Fund (SURF) works to deliver, fundraise and advocate for programmes that rebuild the

lives of survivors of the genocide against the Tutsi and related vulnerable persons, that empower

them and that foster sustainable integration and development in Rwanda.

Survivors of the genocide in Rwanda continue to face innumerable challenges today, including:

• Trauma relating to the impact of the genocide, and continued sense of insecurity

• Health problems resulting from the genocide, in particular the effects of old age

• Poverty particularly resulting from property destroyed and land taken in the genocide

• Shelter and lack of appropriate affordable, safe housing resulting from the genocide

• Justice for survivors, particularly resulting from the lack of support to enforce their rights

• Youth unemployment which is acute among survivors and second-generation survivors

The work of Survivors Fund (SURF) addresses these challenges, through supporting genocide

survivors, and related vulnerable persons, in Rwanda. We work with three principal partners:

AVEGA Agahozo – National Association of Widows of the Genocide

AERG – National Student’s Association of Genocide Survivors

GAERG - National Survivor’s Association of Graduate Students

This Strategic Plan is informed by these partners, and the survivors that they represent. It sets out

a demanding but exciting agenda of support to our partners. It will deliver greater impact for those

we are seeking to help. By balancing our programmes, advocacy work and capacity building with

our fundraising, monitoring and evaluation we will increase our reach and build greater support for

our work. The Strategic Plan will be continuously monitored to inform the future direction and

development of Survivors Fund (SURF).

Our key themes and targets for 2021 – 2023 will be:

Direct support to rebuild lives

• Secure sustainable livelihoods for survivors and related vulnerable persons through a focus on

income generating activities, entrepreneurship and employment

• Improve the well-being of survivors and related vulnerable groups through a focus on mental

health provision, memorialisation and physical health education

• Reduce the vulnerability of survivors and related vulnerable persons through a focus on decent

housing, food security and elderly care

Advocacy and Capacity Building to sustain support

• Improve the enforcement of rights and legal representation of survivors and related vulnerable

persons in Rwanda

• Enable sustainability of survivor organisations in Rwanda over the long term

https://avega-agahozo.org/

http://www.aerg.org.rw/

http://www.aerg.org.rw/

https://gaerg.org.rw/


1. Introduction

1.1 Our Vision

“A world where survivors are respected and integrated”

1.2 Our Mission

Survivors Fund (SURF) works to deliver, fundraise and advocate for programmes that rebuild the

lives of survivors of the genocide against the Tutsi and related vulnerable persons, that empower

them and that foster sustainable integration and development in Rwanda.

1.3 Our Guiding Principles

• SURF’s commitment to survivors and related vulnerable persons is long term

• SURF is independent in its response to the priorities of survivors and related vulnerable persons

• SURF builds the capacity of survivor organisations as strong actors in Rwandan civil society

• SURF supports sustainable activities that are integrated into mainstream planning

1.4. Our Key Themes and Targets


• Secure sustainable livelihoods for survivors and related vulnerable persons

• Improve the well-being of survivors and related vulnerable groups

• Reduce the vulnerability of survivors and related vulnerable persons


• Enforce the rights and legal representation of survivors and related vulnerable persons

• Enable survivor organisations to become more sustainable for the long term

2. Organisational structure

SURF was founded by a group of survivors of the genocide and other Rwandans based in the UK

(who lost their families and friends during this tragic event) and concerned British individuals.

Although support to survivors of the genocide against the Tutsi dates back to 1995, SURF was

formally established and registered in 1997 to advance education, relieve poverty and any

physical, mental or emotional illness, disorder or disability among the survivors.

SURF provides support for a wide range of services to the survivors of the genocide against the

Tutsi in Rwanda. Funded principally by institutional donors (foundations, trusts and development

agencies) with additional income from a small core of individuals, SURF acts as a channel to assist

local partner organisations in Rwanda working with survivors of the genocide against the Tutsi, and

those related to them (principally second-generation survivors). It aims to most effectively deliver


hope, safety, and a decent standard of living for survivors through programmes led by local partner

organisations. SURF also provides technical support and capacity building to them and supports

advocacy to raise awareness and enforce the rights of survivors.

Survivors Fund (SURF) is a charitable company, registered in England and Wales with both the

Charity Commission (1065705) and Companies House (04311565). This structure, which is used

by many charities, allows us to have all the advantages of charitable status, and simultaneously to

limit the trustees’ liability through the company’s ‘limited’ status. As such, Survivors Fund (SURF)

has no share capital and therefore cannot be owned by anyone.

The charity is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association, dated 30 July 1997. SURF

is headed by a Board of Trustees. For company-law purposes, the trustees are also the directors of

Survivors Fund (SURF) Ltd. Day-to-day management of the organisation is led by the Chief

Executive in Rwanda, with support from the UK Coordinator.

2.1. The SURF Strategic Plan

This Strategic Plan accounts for the emerging changes affecting survivors of the genocide against

the Tutsi in Rwanda, and the changing environment in which SURF works. The Plan builds on work

carried out under the 2018-2020 Strategic Plan and sets out the aims, targets and actions for

SURF and its partner’s work; and forms the basis for our operational priorities. It explains how

SURF intends to assist partners to achieve their own plans and priorities.

The Strategic Plan forms the basis of our implementation plan that describes how each area of

work is being put into practice over the three-year period. The implementation plan will be

monitored and evaluated during this period and be used as the basis for supervision and support to

those responsible for carrying out operational tasks and inform the ongoing direction and

development of SURF.

3. Factors affecting & influencing SURF's work

SURF’s work is principally affected by the context within which survivors are living in Rwanda,

which in turn is influenced by financial, political, social and environmental factors. Since its

establishment, SURF has always strived to align its work with that of the Government of Rwanda

as well as the obligations of the State as set out in the Rwanda Constitution – and specifically

Article 50 on the “Welfare of needy survivors of the genocide against Tutsi” which states that “The

State, within the limits of its means and in accordance with the law, has the duty to undertake

special actions aimed at the welfare of the needy survivors of the genocide against Tutsi.”


3.1 Challenges resulting from genocide

Survivors of the genocide in Rwanda continue to face innumerable challenges today, including:

• Trauma relating to the impact of the genocide, and continued sense of insecurity

• Health problems resulting from the genocide, in particular the effects of old age

• Poverty particularly resulting from property destroyed and land taken in the genocide

• Shelter and lack of appropriate affordable, safe housing resulting from the genocide

• Justice for survivors, particularly resulting from the lack of support to enforce their rights

• Youth unemployment which is acute among survivors and second-generation survivors

3.2 Country overview

Small and landlocked, Rwanda is hilly and fertile with a densely packed population of almost 13

million people (2020). It borders the far larger and richer Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as

its closest East African neighbours, Tanzania, Uganda, and Burundi.

In the lead up to its independence in 1962 through to the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994 there

was systematic persecution and violence against the Tutsi (around 15% of the population) by the

Hutu majority, which culminated in the killing of an estimated 1 million Tutsi between April and July

1994.

Subsequent to the genocide, under the leadership of President Paul Kagame, the country has

undergone a radical transformation from a poor, unstable, post-conflict country into a thriving and

stable one. This has included a unifying of the people under one common Rwandese identity.

But Rwanda’s progress will stall without transformative changes that: create wealth and investment

and invigorate the private sector, improve basic services, increase the accountability of the state to

its people, and address potential causes of conflict and fragility, including regional instability.

However, Rwanda continues to make remarkable progress since 1994. Between 2008 and 2018,

Rwanda has moved 19 places up the Human Development Index (HDI) of Countries and now ranks

157 out of 189. No other country has moved up as many places over this period. Poverty fell

dramatically over this time and Rwanda’s Gross National Income per capita has increased from

$796 in 2000 to $1,959 in 2018. Growth has been pro-poor and inequality has reduced. Despite

this, huge challenges remain. Despite poverty declining from 77% in 2001, it is still at around 55%

in 2017. Inequality is reducing, but it is still high and it is constraining sustainable growth and

poverty reduction.

Rwanda has guarded its political stability since the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. Parliamentary

elections in September 2018 saw women fill 64% of the seats, the Rwandan Patriotic Front

maintain an absolute majority in the Chamber of Deputies and, for the first time, two opposition

parties, the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda and Social Party Imberakuri, winning two seats

each in the parliament. President Paul Kagame was re-elected to a seven-year term in the August


2017, following an amendment to the constitution in December 2015 allowing him to serve a third

term.

Rwanda’s strong economic growth was accompanied by substantial improvements in living

standards, with a two-thirds drop in child mortality and near-universal primary school enrollment. A

strong focus on homegrown policies and initiatives has contributed to significant improvement in

access to services and human development indicators. Life expectancy at birth improved from 29

in the mid-1990s to 69 in 2019. The maternal mortality ratio has fallen from 1,270 per 100,000 live

births in the 1990s to 290 in 2019.

Implication for survivors and related vulnerable groups: Poverty rates particularly amongst the rural

population of survivors remains high, especially in the Southern Province of Rwanda where the

greatest proportion of survivors reside and poverty rates are highest. With many survivors living in

rural areas many have not benefited as much from economic growth as those living in urban areas.

Many are still entirely reliant on agriculture for subsistence and livelihoods and thus are vulnerable

to climate change.

3.3 Economy

The economy of Rwanda has undergone rapid industrialisation due to a successful governmental

policy. Since the early-2000s, Rwanda has witnessed an economic boom improving the living

standards of many Rwandans. The Government's progressive vision has been the catalyst for the

fast transforming economy. President Kagame has noted his ambition to make Rwanda the

"Singapore of Africa".

Today, Rwanda is a rural, agrarian country with agriculture accounting for about 63% of export

earnings, and with some mineral and agro-processing. Tourism, minerals, coffee, and tea are

Rwanda's main sources of foreign exchange. Despite Rwanda's fertile ecosystem, food production

often does not keep pace with demand, requiring food imports. Energy shortages, instability in

neighbouring states, and lack of adequate transportation linkages to other countries continue to

handicap private sector growth.

The genocide decimated Rwanda's fragile economic base, severely impoverished the population,

particularly women, and temporarily stalled the country's ability to attract private and external

investment. However, Rwanda has made substantial progress in stabilising and rehabilitating its

economy well beyond pre-1994 levels.

The government has embraced an expansionary fiscal policy to reduce poverty by improving

education, infrastructure, and foreign and domestic investment. Rwanda consistently ranks well for

ease of doing business and transparency.

Rwanda now aspires to reach Middle Income Country (MIC) status by 2035 and High-Income

Country (HIC) status by 2050. This aspiration will be carried out through a series of seven-


year National Strategies for Transformation (NST1), underpinned by detailed sectoral strategies

that are aimed toward achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The NST1 came after the implementation of two, five-year Economic Development and Poverty

Reduction Strategies—EDPRS (2008-12) and EDPRS-2 (2013-18), under which Rwanda

experienced robust economic and social performances. Growth averaged 7.5% over the decade to

2018, while per capita growth domestic product (GDP) grew at 5% annually and inflation has been

reduced to single digits.

Implication for survivors and related vulnerable groups: The issue of youth unemployment is

particularly acute for young survivors (and second-generation survivors) due to the lack of contacts

and collateral that they can access. Despite many survivors having had the opportunity to complete

their secondary education through support from FARG, many do not have the skills to secure

employment. Despite the focus on transitioning Rwanda from an agriculture-based to a knowledge-

based economy, many of this group – as well as older widows - remain excluded from the job

market and continue to rely on agriculture for their livelihoods.

3.4 Civil and political rights

Freedom House rates Rwanda as ‘not free’, its lowest ratings category, in terms of political rights

and civil liberties. Election turn-outs are high but the transparency of the electoral process has

shortcomings. The Government has been criticised for its treatment of journalists and for

restrictions on the media. Concerns have also been raised about restrictions on the freedoms of

human rights NGOs and opposition political parties and about some anti-genocide laws stifling

legitimate dissent and debate. Advocacy remains difficult and delicate for many civil society

organisations, in not being seen as being aligned with the agenda of the Government of Rwanda.

Implication for survivors and related vulnerable groups: Local survivors organisations in Rwanda

have historically had little success with advocacy, with a few notable exceptions (such as AVEGA’s

role in securing a new GBV Law in 2008). This challenge is exacerbated by the marginalisation of

survivor’s issues through the recent emphasis on the Government on vulnerable persons, amongst

which survivors are just one of a number. Instead there has been a particular focus on people with

disabilities which over time are being targeted for more dedicated support.

3.5 Education

In sub-Saharan Africa, Rwanda is one of the top-performing countries in education. 98 per cent of

children are enrolled in primary school.

However, there are still several challenges in education. Although nearly every child enrols into

primary school, only 71 per cent of children complete their primary education. Classrooms are often

too crowded, with an average of 62 students for every qualified teacher.


Just 18 per cent of children in Rwanda are enrolled in pre-primary education. There are too few

pre-primary facilities, insufficient government budgeting for pre-primary education, and

inadequately trained pre-primary educators.

The quality of education requires significant attention. Primary students score too low in numeracy

and literacy exams. Teachers are also unable to teach in English, the official language of

instruction, and rely too heavily on traditional, teacher-centred instruction.

Although there are relatively equal numbers of boys and girls in classrooms, girls are more likely to

drop out of school. Boys also outperform girls in 26 of Rwanda’s 30 districts. Girls are also

significantly under-enrolled in technical, vocational and tertiary education.

Implication for survivors and related vulnerable groups: Survivors have benefited from access to

schooling since the establishment of the Government Assistance Fund for Vulnerable Genocide

Survivors (FARG) in 1998. Over 100,000 survivors completed secondary school with support from

FARG, of which a further 33,000 survivors have been funded to complete higher education.

However, second-generation survivors (in particular children born to women survivors raped during

the genocide) did not benefit from FARG support and have required additional support to secure

the same educational opportunities afforded to survivors. There is a particular need for more

vocational training to enable school graduates to transition into employment.

3.6 Health

Healthcare in Rwanda was historically of poor quality, but in recent decades has seen great

improvement. Rwanda operates a universal health care system, and is considered to have one of

the highest-quality health systems in Africa.

President Kagame made healthcare one of the priorities for the Vision 2020 development

programme, boosting spending on health care to 6.5% of GDP in 2013, compared with 1.9% in

1996. The government has devolved the financing and management of healthcare to local

communities, through a system of health insurance providers called mutuelles de santé.

Since 2011 premiums have varied on a sliding scale according to wealth, with the poorest citizens

entitled to free health insurance (through a Rwf 2,000 subsidy paid by government) and the

wealthiest paying premiums of Rwf 7,000 per adult. As of 2019, around 90% of the population is

covered by the scheme.

Rwanda's healthcare system operates 499 health centers, 680 health posts which are mainly

involved with the outpatient programmes such as immunizations and family planning services, a

number of dispensaries, and 42 district hospitals. There is a network of 58,286 Community Health

Workers who provide primary care in the 14,837 villages and make referrals.

HIV prevalence in Rwanda is 3.1% among adults ages 15 to 49. The prevalence rate has remained

relatively stable, with an overall decline since the late 1990s, partly due to improved HIV

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwanda

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_health_care

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vision_2020_(Rwanda)


surveillance methodology. In general, HIV prevalence is higher in urban areas than in rural areas,

and women are at higher risk of HIV infection than men. Young women ages 15 to 24 are twice as

likely to be infected with HIV as young men in the same age group. While stigma continues to be a

problem for people living with HIV/AIDS, the situation is slowly improving due to good information

sharing at all levels about HIV/AIDS.

Implication for survivors and related vulnerable groups: Access to healthcare for survivors has

improved on a par with the rest of the wider population, in particular helped by several clinics set up

through funding by DFID in partnership with SURF which initially were set up to treat women

survivors infected with HIV but which are now run by the local partner organisations to provide

general community healthcare. However, there are still issues related to access to care and

treatment for HIV+ survivors related to wanting to access support confidentially through partner

clinics, as well as poorer survivors having difficulty to afford mutuelle de sante.

3.7 Social Protection

The Rwanda’s National Social Protection Sector Strategy 2018-2024 and the updated Social

Protection Policy of 2017 define social protection as: All public and private insurance and income

transfer schemes as well as social care services that, together, ensure that all citizens, especially

the most vulnerable and marginalized, have income security, a dignified standard of living, are

protected against life-cycle and livelihood risks and that the rights of all citizens are upheld. The

mission of the social protection sector is to ensure that ‘All Rwandan citizens have a dignified

standard of living, are protected from social exclusion, neglect and abuse, and are supported to

access employment and other livelihood opportunities.’

The social protection sector is coordinated by the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC) with

support from various ministries and agencies. Starting from small and fragmented social support

interventions a decade ago, Rwanda has developed a nationwide social protection program

entitled the Vision 2020 Umurenge Program (VUP) to eradicate extreme poverty by 2020. With the

support of the World Bank and other development partners, the VUP has been expanded, currently

reaching over a million beneficiaries, over 50% of whom are female. It covers both contributory and

non-contributory schemes with a particular focus on livelihood support services or cash plus

initiatives which target support to vulnerable groups:

• Since the VUP’s inception in 2008, more than 2,200 projects have been implemented under

its public works component, which has employed more than 800,000 households, and

generated more than 40 million paid working days.

• The classic public works program grew from 30 sectors with 18,304 households in 2008 to

244 sectors (out of 416 sectors in the country) and is currently benefiting 133,102

households of which over 50% are female headed.

• The gender and child sensitive Expanded Public Works component which offers flexible

year-round work schedule to moderately labor-constrained households particularly those

caring for young children and other dependents, was introduced in 2016/2017. It currently


covers 150 sectors with 22,583 households, more than 72% of which are headed by

women.

• The direct support (cash transfers) grew from 6,850 households in 2009, to cover the entire

country with 107,106 households as of April 2019

• Overall, different components of VUP benefit more than one million individuals in all the

targeted households.

Implication for survivors and related vulnerable groups: Despite social protection initially being set

up to support survivors of the genocide, through the establishment FARG, support is now

mainstreamed to all vulnerable persons. This has resulted in survivors “falling through the net” and

not always receiving the support that they need. There are multiple reasons for this ranging from

not having anyone in their community to advocate for their rights to social protection and being

wrongly categorised as not requiring support. As there continues to be a focus on harmonising

social protection support, there is a need to ensure that all vulnerable survivors in need of such

support are identified and receive it.

3.8 Trauma and Mental Health

In the aftermath of 1994, genocide survivors showed high rates of mental health and psychosocial

problems due to the brutality that the majority of them had been exposed or witness to. Entire

family systems as well as the general social fabric that formerly provided support were destroyed

due to losses of family members and growing mistrust and fear following the genocide. Studies

analysing the mental health situation in Rwanda following the genocide have mainly focused on

groups of widows and orphans or children living in child-headed households. An elevated level of

depressive and anxious symptoms as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was found in

each of these groups.

The recent Rwanda Mental Health Survey (RMHS 2018) conducted by the Rwanda Biomedical

Centre (RBC) revealed the increased prevalence of various mental disorders within the general

Rwandan population and within genocide survivors. Results from this survey indicated that:

• Major depressive episodes (MDD) occurred in 12% of the general population and 35% of

Genocide Survivors

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) occurred in 3.6% of the general population and

27% of Genocide survivors

Survivors and their families continue to present with considerable rates of posttraumatic stress

disorder (PTSD) and substantial depressive and anxiety symptoms. Studies evidence a strong

association between health problems and psychosocial factors such as social integration.

Posttraumatic stress reactions were especially elevated in adult survivors who had experienced a

high number of traumatic events, had poor physical health and were lacking in social integration.


Descendants of genocide survivors show a higher risk for mental health problems than

descendants of former prisoners. A high trauma load as well as missing family integration and

support characterizes their specific vulnerable situation. The capacity of Rwanda’s Social Care

system to prevent and respond to an increasingly complex range of social vulnerabilities remains

limited due to a lack of trained mental health professionals (with only 10 psychiatrists in the

country) and a small budget for mental health services. There remains two centres (Le Centre

Psychothérapeutique Icyizere and CARAES Ndera neuropsychiatric Hospital) in the Rwanda

health care system which provide specialist treatment for PTSD.

Implication for survivors and related vulnerable groups: Access to mental health support continues

to be a critical need for survivors, and with specialist services so limited in Rwanda the burden to

provide such treatment falls to local survivor’s organisations. With so many other competing needs,

it is unlikely in the years ahead that this situation will change, which particularly disadvantages

survivors due to the crippling effects resulting from PTSD. That there is increasing evidence for the

intergenerational inheritance of trauma, makes the need to not only sustain but extend mental

health support to survivors and second-generation survivors even more vital.

3.9 Justice

Although progress has been reported by the Justice Sector, it continues to face numerous

challenges including: the persistence of genocide ideology, lack of affordable and accessible

justice for many, lack of accessible legal advice/aid/representation, considerable case backlog

including a large number of land disputes, and the need to build the capacity of personnel.

These issues are exacerbated by existing incentive structures, which often reward delay rather

than resolution of cases. For example, reluctance of police and prosecutors to screen cases on the

basis of merit since their performance is measured more on quantity (of cases registered) than on

quality (number of non-deserving cases not pursued or withdrawn).

The focus for the Justice Sector is on strengthening the sector capacity, improving access to

quality justice, addressing genocide ideology and challenges to unity and reconciliation, enforcing

the rule of law, and improving safety, law and order. The judiciary is considered to be independent.

The work of the sector is underpinned by the belief that access to justice is a fundamental right,

that the law must apply equally to everyone, as well as a key means to defend other rights, and that

it is essential for poverty eradication and human development as well as a means to address

inequalities in power.

The legal rights of survivors were enforced to some extent through gacaca, a system of 12,000

community-based courts that operated from 2002 to 2012 to try over 400,000 genocide suspects

while promoting forgiveness by victims, ownership of guilt by criminals, and reconciliation in

communities. There still remain issues of gacaca judgements made in favour of survivors not been

enforced due to those found guilty being indigent. As well, many young survivors are still fighting


for the right for land and property appropriated by others during and after the genocide to be

returned.

There are an estimated 25,000 people still in prisons in Rwanda for their role in the genocide. An

estimated 5,000 of them are due to be released from prison through to 2022. The organisers and

leaders of the genocide were mostly sent for trial at the UN International Criminal Tribunal for

Rwanda in Arusha, which resulted in less than 100 prosecutions, and closed in 2015. Any appeals

are now heard by the UN Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals.

Implication for survivors and related vulnerable groups: Survivors are still fighting for justice for the

genocide, in particular in the form of compensation still owed to them through awards made in

gacaca trials which have not been honoured and enforced. Younger survivors still require support

to enforce their right to property and land appropriated in the genocide. There are still a number of

high-level genocidaires at large, though several are now in custody and awaiting trial. The recent

release of perpetrators of the genocide in Rwanda is resulting in insecurity for survivors.

3.10 Genocide Survivors Support and Assistance Fund (FARG)

The Genocide Survivors Support and Assistance Fund (FARG) is a parastatal organisation set up

in 1998 to provide vulnerable genocide survivors with support in of education, health, shelter, social

assistance and income generation. Since the first National Social Protection Strategy was adopted

in 2005, aiming at harmonising all social protection interventions across the country to contribute to

poverty reduction, which has resulted in a number of areas of support previously delivered by

FARG now channelled through other agencies.

As such, the principal focus of FARG today is to fund shelter projects, with around Rwf 12 billion

allocated to the shelter programme in 2019/20 intended to renovate the dilapidated houses of

around 500 survivor-headed households. There are an estimated 2,100 houses though in need of

urgent renovation nationwide. Most of the beneficiaries are elderly genocide widows.

Additional funding is channelled into medical care for survivors, particularly for older survivors, to

treat non-communicable diseases including cancer, diabetes and coronary disease. There are

around 5,000 survivors at university which receive support from FARG, all of which are expected to

have graduated by 2024.

Beneficiaries of emergency assistance cash grants – which currently reach around 30,000 mainly

elderly survivors – have now been integrated into the broader non-contributory social security

programmes of VUP. The Districts propose candidates for assistance to FARG, indicating into

which social protection programme they should be incorporated. The Districts register the

candidates on the respective programmes. FARG transfers funds to the respective social

protection programmes and is expected to monitor the incorporation of survivors in the

programmes.


Implication for survivors and related vulnerable groups: The greatest issues facing survivors in

respect to FARG is the challenge that some face in being identified and recognised for support,

particularly those living in more rural and isolated areas. There continues to be the need for local

survivor’s organisations to advocate to ensure that they can access the support due to them. As

well, there has historically been an issue of fraudulent claims for support by non-survivors which

has diverted funds due to survivors. FARG is constituted only to support survivors, and as such

second-generation survivors (such as children born of rape) are excluded from receiving support.

3.11 COVID-19

Rwanda was in the middle of an economic boom prior to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

The first case of COVID-19 in Rwanda was confirmed on 14 March 2020. In an attempt to stop the

spread of coronavirus, the Rwandan Ministry of Health announced on 18 March, via Twitter, that all

international commercial passenger flights would be suspended for 30 days, with effect from 20

March. Less than a day later, on 21 March, officials announced a two-week lockdown. Both public

and private employees are to work from home, under strict measures. All borders were also closed,

cargo and Rwandan nationals being exempt, with a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

This quick and extensive response has significantly reduced the spread of the virus compared to

many of its neighbouring countries, and the first official death related to COVID-19 was not

recorded in the country until 31st May 2020. However, a cluster of cases have resulted in local

spikes, particularly in and around border areas (such as Rusizi).

The pandemic has disrupted international flows of goods and services with significant spillovers to

the broader global economy. Exports and tourism are taking a strong hit amid disruption in

international trade and travel. Rwanda is already feeling mounting balance of payment and fiscal

pressures. This could negatively impact the provision of public health services with respect to

COVID-19 response and preparedness capacity, as well as adversely affect the provision of other

essential health service delivery in Rwanda, as healthcare workers and fiscal resources are

redirected to the emergency response.

Implication for survivors and related vulnerable groups: Malnourished individuals with

compromised immunities are more at risk and susceptible to the spread of the virus, which puts

HIV+ survivors in a high-risk category. There is a need for targeted efforts to ensure that nutritional

support is available to this group, which SURF has been spearheading through making available

mobile cash transfers for the purchase of food, as well as the distribution of livestock for food and

to help generate a small income. There is also a need to ensure that survivors who tend to be more

isolated in their community have access to mental health support due to the greater risk of

enduring challenges resulting from either lockdown or self-quarantine.


4. SURF Partners

SURF continues to build a meaningful and lasting positive effect to the lives of survivors of the

genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The continued attention, effort and success on behalf of the

genocide survivors has been possible because of the commitment of individuals and partner

organisations in Rwanda and UK who have supported our work.

The partners of Survivors Fund (SURF) currently include:

AVEGA Agahozo – National Association of Widows of the Genocide

AERG – National Student’s Association of Genocide Survivors

GAERG - National Survivor’s Association of Graduate Students

Solace Ministries - Christian Association of Survivors of the Genocide

Uyisenga N’manzi - Survivors’ Association of HIV+ Orphan-headed Households

IBUKA - National Umbrella of Survivors’ Organisations in Rwanda

Kanyarwanda – Association of Women Survivors of the Genocide and Sexual Violence

Barakabaho Foundation – Advocates for Orphans and Women Victims of Violence

Dukundane Family - Association of Genocide Survivors formerly in membership of AERG

All of SURF's work is supporting genocide survivors, and related vulnerable persons, in Rwanda.

Our principal partners are:

4.1.1 AVEGA – Agahozo was established in 1995 by 50 widowed survivors, AVEGA – Agahozo is

the acronym for the Association of Widows of the April Genocide. Agahozo describes a small,

intimate, loving action. It means ‘to wipe the tears’. It describes a life-decision, a resolution to pick

up the pieces and begin again, a commitment to life. The charity provides a means of support and

recovery, and promotes self-fulfilment and self-reliance through many programmes, ranging from

social networking to job training and from home construction to peer counselling. AVEGA now has

five centres across Rwanda and has a web site at www.avega-agahozo.org.

4.1.2 AERG is an association of student survivors of genocide created in 1996 at the National

University of Rwanda. AERG is now represented nationally at 26 Universities and institutes of

higher learning and 272 secondary schools in Rwanda, with a total countrywide membership of

43,397. The national AERG coordination office is based in Kigali, which liaises with the AERG

University and Secondary School AERG sections to connect and represent student survivors. It

has a web site at https://aerg.org.rw/.

4.13 GAERG is a national organisation founded by Rwandan Graduates who are Genocide

Survivors with a mission of creating a world in which the memory of genocide is preserved and that

the genocide survivor community can support and sustain themselves. It strives to ensure a

dignified preservation of the memory of the genocide, building capacity through education,

socioeconomic development, and advocacy for beneficiaries. They empower members to be self-

reliant through their various programs. It has a website at https://gaerg.org.rw/.

http://www.avega-agahozo.org/

https://aerg.org.rw/


https://www.solaceministries.org/

https://uyisenganmanzi.org.rw/

https://twitter.com/ibuka_rwanda

https://survivors-fund.org.uk/survivors-rights/kanyarwanda/

https://www.facebook.com/Barakabaho-Foundation-410258352359139/

https://twitter.com/dukundanefamily

http://www.avega-agahozo.org/

https://aerg.org.rw/



5. SURF Projects

The project that SURF is in a position to deliver is dependent on the funding available. However,

there are a number of flagship projects which we will strive to sustain, and where possible expand

over the period of the Strategic Plan through to 2023, mainly delivered by our three principal

partner organisations, AVEGA, AERG and GAERG. These are:

5.1 Widowed Survivors Livelihood Development

In partnership with AVEGA, SURF provides holistic support to widowed survivors and their

dependants, to reduce extreme poverty of widows. The work fosters self-reliance in widows

through the establishment of marketable businesses thus positively impacting their lives, through a

model which supports them to form income generating activities (IGA) groups and then provides

access to funding for projects through a Loan Guarantee Fund. Participants are provided with

training, and encouraged to establish savings groups to offset, or reduce, the size of loans required

to support their businesses.

The livelihood development training fosters group collaboration and cooperative formation,

resulting in enhanced social cohesion, reduced isolation and loneliness, and collective financial

security among members for the establishment of new enterprises.

Where possible, support is targeted at HIV+ survivors, and also incorporates counselling and the

provision of kitchen gardens, to supplement their nutritional needs, to enable them to fully

participate in the project. Also, vulnerable survivors receive solar lights and clean cookstoves which

help provide a sustainable and salubrious energy source, whilst reducing household expenditure.

As well, advocacy is undertaken for elderly widows who because of their advanced age cannot be

supported through our livelihood interventions. We are advocating for them to receive greater

support from local authorities and FARG, in particular to ensure that those living in dilapidated

housing receive support for vital repairs.

5.2 Youth Entrepreneurship Training Programme (YETP) and GAERG Innovation Fund

Skills, jobs and entrepreneurship are key to the well-being of young survivors and also contribute to

strengthening the Rwandan economy. SURF and AERG set up YETP with the support of

INSPIRE!africa with the aim of providing valuable skills to vulnerable young people, and of

reducing youth unemployment in Rwanda.

Young survivors face more hurdles than most in education and competing in the job market. Those

responsible for younger siblings, in orphan-headed households, have extra challenges without

family to support them. With a strengthening knowledge-based economy Rwanda offers increasing

opportunity, but competition for jobs and business creation remains fierce.

http://survivors-fund.org.uk/


YETP now takes a multi-pronged approach to mitigating youth unemployment. There continues to

be a focus on business workshops, internship linkages, and employment workshops. Rather than

support new beneficiaries to access training, AERG and SURF have been supporting those

graduates of YETP who despite great efforts and time, remain unable to find work and income

through access to funding to scale up their ventures through loans.

In partnership with GAERG, SURF helped set up an Investment Trust Fund, dubbed G-Innovation

Development Fund (GIDF). The Fund is a pool of investments aimed at assisting young survivors

to create and grow their businesses. The Fund invests in businesses at various stages, including

seed stage, late stage and early stage.

Applicants benefit from capacity building before being given the capital to start their own

businesses. The Fund is open-ended, meaning it is willing to attract investments from anyone. It

has an independent board of trustees with a diverse array of experience.

5.3 Community Counselling Initiative

Through counselling for women victims of genocide rape, Survivors Fund (SURF) and Foundation

Rwanda provide counselling in a well-structured peer support approach.

The project includes in-depth monitoring and evaluation, surveying the women before, during and

after working in the counselling groups. This provides the ability to track the changes in their

circumstances and monitor their wellness, whilst also providing feedback to ensure that the

counselling groups are having a positive impact and are helpful to the women.

These women, who were previously marginalised, stigmatised and alone in their trauma, are able

to build their confidence and self-esteem, increase their knowledge, enhance positive emotions

and reduce shame. The counselling groups also helped to improve relationships with their children

and family. As part of the project, additional training and supervision is provided to the counsellors

of AVEGA to enable them to more effectively deliver this support.

5.4 Livelihood and counselling support to children born of rape

Through funding from Foundation Rwanda, SURF is addressing the livelihood and counselling

needs of young people conceived through rape during and under circumstances directly related to

the 1994 genocide committed against Tutsi in Rwanda. The challenge for the affected mothers and

children is that FARG, the government body that assists vulnerable survivors of the genocide, has

never considered these young people eligible for support because they were born after genocide

and thus are not by definition survivors. However, they are recognised to be a particularly

vulnerable and marginalised population.

Our Foundation Rwanda programme previously focused on educational support for this group,

though that component of the programme concluded in 2020. As such, the focus has transitioned

into enabling opportunities for the target group to develop livelihoods, principally through access to


vocational training which then can lead to employment or self-employment. Counselling support is

also provided through specially convened youth camps, which enables participants to develop

relationships between each other and collectively provide support to deal with the unique psycho-

social issues which they face.

5.5 Legal and Counselling Helpline

The helpline was established in partnership with AERG to fill the gap in support for young survivors

with legal and mental health challenges, so that they can access support regardless of where they

are located. The project supports youth to resolve their legal cases, and provide counselling,

through trained personnel and volunteers that operate it.

Since its establishment in 2013, the helpline has grown from a small pilot telephone-based service

to an innovative, all-encompassing legal and counselling support service. By providing legal and

counselling support services countrywide, the helpline has filled a necessary gap in support for

vulnerable young survivors with outstanding legal disputes or suffering from trauma.

This is one of the only free and accessible services for young survivors incapable of affording to

take their legal cases to court or lacking the confidence or ability to find someone to talk to about a

mental health issue. In addition to providing telephone-based support, the helpline also has field

staff who provide support to clients through legal education and orientation, advocacy and

representation in court.

5.6 Youth Counselling Programme

Thousands of youthful survivors of the 1994 genocide are only now confronting the horror of seeing

their families murdered. They struggle to make ends meet, alone and vulnerable, prone to

depression and hopelessness. Through support from our partner Network for Africa we are working

with AERG to train counsellors who in turn train local people to become counsellors. The

counsellors are themselves survivors who have endured trauma, so they are familiar with the

challenges faced by people with depression and other mental health issues.

Groups have been convened across Rwanda. The group members then select two from their ranks

to become Peer Support Counsellors for their group. Once their training is complete, they begin

convening the groups every two weeks. During these sessions they raise awareness about trauma,

anxiety, insomnia and depression.

Each session lasts about two hours, and enables people to share their problems, finding a degree

of immediately relief by realising they are no longer alone. Everyone knows what they say is

confidential, and the group is based on trust. They are taught techniques helping them focus on the

positive aspects of their life, to take pride in their achievements, build self-confidence and to

change their future prospects. When counsellors identify survivors who need individual help, they

do home visits. When a participant has problems beyond the counsellors’ capability, they are

referred to SURF’s professional counsellors.


Several of the groups have formed communal savings schemes and are growing crops together.

The participants tell us they no longer feel isolated, and they are supported by their fellow group

members. A new form of family has filled the gap left by their relatives who were murdered in the

genocide. We are planning to extend this component of the programme in due course.

5.7 Livestock and Hardship Support Programme

Through funding from the Good Gifts Catalogue, an initiative of the Charities Advisory Trust, SURF

is continuing to extend support to thousands or widows and orphans that are beneficiaries of an

ongoing livestock and hardship support program, enabling them to become more independent and

self-sufficient.

SURF aims to alleviate the impact of poverty on vulnerable survivors by strengthening their families

to alleviate extreme poverty. Funding from Good Gifts helps to provide subsistence and household

needs, which in some cases can also evolve into small income generating projects, which enable

survivors to take a more active role in determining their lives.

Many survivors are supported through receiving livestock, agricultural materials, solar lights, clean

cookstoves, and much more.

5.8 Reaching Rwanda

Sandhurst School has been running its ground-breaking Reaching Rwanda project in partnership

with SURF since 2008. Pioneered by the Sandhurst School Deputy Head Samantha Hunt, who is

also Chair of SURF, the Reaching Rwanda project has worked extensively in Rwanda by linking

UK school students with survivors.

The project has three main aims:

- To inform students about the Rwandan genocide and of the continued plight of survivors of

the genocide today

- To connect students with genocide survivors and enable them to become friends

- To enable students to become actively involved in improving the life chances of genocide

survivors and to see the difference their efforts make

Devoted to improving education and livelihoods across Rwanda the project has in particular

supported ‘Ntarama Survivors Village’ in Bugesera, Eastern Province. Support includes funding for

school and university education, renovation and repair of dilapidated housing, provision of livestock

and essential household items – as well as support for vocational training, and income-generating

activities. Work is ongoing on a new Children’s Centre for the village.


5.9 Other Projects

SURF continues to fund a number of legacy projects where historically we have provided support

and there continues to be a need as determined by the local partner organisations. This includes

support for survivors to access higher education where they require supplementary funding to that

which is available from FARG (to afford accommodation, transport and scholastic materials), as

well as for survivors and second-generation survivors to access education through provision of

tuition fees where that is not available from FARG.

Many survivors lost their homes during the genocide. Though some received houses from

government and NGOs after the genocide, many of these dwellings are now dilapidated and in dire

need of renovation. As such, SURF supports the rehabilitation of such housing to ensure survivors

have safe, secure and decent shelter.

Further support is provided around the commemoration of the genocide in April each year to

enable local partner organisations to mark the anniversary through community events. This is

extended as well to the documentation and recording of testimonies of survivors to ensure that their

experience is recorded for posterity, and which can be used to raise awareness of the ongoing

need for support for survivors.

As of the time of writing of this strategic plan, SURF has developed several projects in response to

the COVID-19 pandemic, which are focused on providing hardship and nutritional assistance for

the most vulnerable households, as well as access to phone-based counselling. This enables us to

provide counselling services remotely through several additional toll-free helplines that supplement

the Legal and Counselling Helpline which is already in place and run by AERG. Such programmes

will continue to be a priority for as long as there is a need to provide special support to vulnerable

survivors and related vulnerable persons resulting from challenges of the lockdown and the

continued threat of the virus.

An undercutting element of all of this work is building the capacity of the local partner organisations

to more effectively deliver the projects, as well as to enable them to raise additional funding to

support this work and other projects that they are independently pursuing, with the ultimate aim that

they can be more self-sufficient and sustainable.

6. Strategic Plan

6.1 Overview

This Strategic Plan is informed by the SURF Strategic Plan 2018 – 2020 and our partner

organisations, and the survivors they represent. It sets out a demanding but exciting agenda of

support to our partners. It will deliver greater impact for those we are seeking to help. By balancing

our programmes, advocacy work and capacity building with our fundraising, monitoring and

evaluation we will increase our reach and build greater support for our work. The Strategic Plan will

be continuously monitored to inform the direction and development of SURF.


Our key themes and targets for 2021 – 2023 will be:








Definition of Related Vulnerable Persons:

Survivors Fund (SURF) is led by its partner organisations in determining which vulnerable persons

it prioritises in its work. Though many of the organisations were initially set up by and for survivors

of the genocide against the Tutsi, they now provide support to an array of other related vulnerable

persons.

Related Vulnerable Persons include, but are not restricted to:

- Children born to women survivors raped during the genocide against the Tutsi

- Children born to survivors of the genocide against the Tutsi (second-generation survivors)

- Children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS

- Disabled and older persons living in survivor-headed households

6.1.1 Direct support to rebuild lives




By 2023 we will secure sustainable livelihoods for survivors and related vulnerable persons

through a focus on income generating activities, entrepreneurship and employment

Targets:

Over the next three years, we aim to:

- Increase the number of survivors and related vulnerable persons with secure, sustainable

livelihoods

- Support access to entrepreneurship and employment programmes for young survivors and

children born of rape in particular through vocational training

- Enable more survivors and related vulnerable persons to access training and loans to pursue

income-generating activities

Actions:

We will:

- Strengthen the capacity of the partners to develop and deliver IGA programmes

- Research new opportunities and develop proposals with partners for IGAs

- Provide technical support and monitoring for income generating activities


- Extend our partnership with Foundation Rwanda to identify and pursue additional opportunities

for vocational education and training for young people born of rape

- Support young survivors, young people born of rape, to ensure they have better opportunities

to transition into employment and take up more practical TVET opportunities

- Identify additional funding opportunities for TVET for these students, and ensure any new

programmes are aligned with the Government of Rwanda strategy

By 2023 we will improve the well-being of survivors and related vulnerable persons through a focus

on mental health provision, memorialisation and physical health education

Targets:


- Improve the well-being of more survivors and related vulnerable persons

- Secure greater access to counselling for survivors, and related vulnerable persons

- Ensure that survivors, and related vulnerable persons, can fully memorialise the genocide

- Increase uptake of physical activity by survivors, and related vulnerable persons

Actions:

We will:

- Identify and engage new partners to support essential services for survivors

- Research and educate on the sensitivities of delivering essential services to survivors

- Support and raise funds for effective and expansive mental health provision for survivors

- Sustain the Counselling Helpline and Community Counselling Initiative to ensure universal

access to mental health support to any survivor and related vulnerable person in need

- Research and raise awareness of the challenges resulting from the intergenerational

inheritance of trauma and models to address it, such as through youth counselling camps

- Support and publicise any books, films and projects which document the experience of

survivors and related vulnerable persons

- Work with the Government of Rwanda and IBUKA to ensure the fit and proper burial of the

remains of victims of the genocide, and the preservation of memorial sites

- Raise awareness of the importance of physical activity in improving health outcomes

By 2023 we will reduce the vulnerability of survivors and related vulnerable persons through a

focus on decent housing, food security and elderly care

Targets:


- Reduce the number of vulnerable survivors and related vulnerable persons in need

- Secure greater access to care of older survivors and related vulnerable older persons

- Increase the number of survivors and related vulnerable persons with decent housing

- Improve the food security of survivors and related vulnerable persons


Actions:

We will:

- Be flexible in our response to emerging vulnerabilities of survivor’s groups

- Strive to raise and advocate for funding to build new homes, and renovate dilapidating housing

for vulnerable survivors

- Develop new projects, and ensure that existing projects, include a focus on food security

where possible, particularly through sustainable models such as kitchen gardens

- Provide and uphold the right of elderly survivors to hardship support, such as made possible

through mobile cash transfers

- Ensure vulnerable survivors and related vulnerable persons can access essential household

items, and where possible ensure they are sustainable (such as solar lights, clean cookstoves)

- Deliver support where and when required to households of survivors effected in particular by

issues resulting from Covid-19

6.1.2 Advocacy and Capacity Building to sustain support



By 2023 we will improve the enforcement of rights and legal representation of survivors and

vulnerable groups in Rwanda

Targets:


- Ensure that more survivors and related vulnerable persons have access to legal representation

- Raise awareness of the need for justice for survivors and related vulnerable persons

- Mainstream rights of survivors and vulnerable groups into national development policies

Actions:

We will:

- Work with partner organisations to develop and secure funding for new legal programmes

- Support initiatives aimed at enforcing awards of compensation to survivors made at gacaca

- Support survivors and related vulnerable persons to bring legal cases

- Support survivors and related vulnerable persons to fully participate in civic life

- Actively rebut and respond to genocide denial

- Develop partnerships with international organisations to advocate for the rights of survivors and

related vulnerable persons in Rwanda

- Develop the capacity of partners to ensure that survivors and related vulnerable persons are

fully included in the National Social Protection Strategy

By 2023 we will enable survivor organisations to be more sustainable for the long term

Targets:


- Ensure that our key partners are generating more revenue


- Strengthen the capacity of SURF to deliver the support requested by partners

- Develop new partnerships in strategic areas to deliver financial security in the long term

- Support the organisational development of our local partner organisations

Actions:

We will:

- Develop strategies that ensure core funding to sustain SURF’s support to partners

- Ensure effective governance of SURF, and strengthen the governance of our partners

- Train, develop and support the staff of SURF, and enable our partners to do so with their staff

- Support partners to develop and fundraise for institutional grants from international donors

- Support our partner survivor’s organisations to identify and develop new partnerships

- Pilot new approaches to revenue generation in Rwanda, and support our partners to do so too

- Work with partner organisations to develop and secure funding for new social enterprises

- Coordinate greater sector-wide participation of our partners and facilitate a strategic approach

7. Programme Delivery

We will ensure the impact of our work by focusing on accountability to beneficiaries and donors. A

priority is to continue to listen, respect and support the priorities of survivors. SURF will strongly

advocate and fundraise for partners, and through our high-engagement approach we will support

partners to deliver quality long-term programmes to highly vulnerable survivors’ groups and other

groups of vulnerable persons. Though our focus will remain on empowering and building the

capacity of our partners to more effectively deliver programmes, as a last resort we will also deliver

some programmes ourselves in those areas where our partners are unable to effectively do so.

We will do all we can to ensure SURF remains a dynamic organisation that is seen and acts as the

as the most effective international charity supporting survivors of the genocide, and related

vulnerable persons, in Rwanda.

8. Communications

There is an increase in the profile of SURF’s work around the world, especially in the UK, Rwanda

and America. We will work to further strengthen our profile.

To strengthen our communications we will:

- Highlight the challenges and rights of survivors and related vulnerable persons in Rwanda

- Promote the work and direction of SURF and our partners

- Show the difference we make, through our Annual Review

- Actively promote our Guiding Principles

- Through our website and social media, mobilise individuals to be long-term SURF supporters

- Vigorously implement and communicate the strategic aims and objectives in this strategic plan

- Actively use information technology for engaging our partners, supporters and the public


Use communications to build public awareness in the UK and beyond of the genocide, its long-term

consequences and the plight of survivors and related vulnerable persons in Rwanda.

9. Development

Development is about generating the greatest possible resources and applying them to make the

biggest difference to survivors and other vulnerable groups in Rwanda. SURF’s overall approach is

to encourage greater mass participation, providing a funding vehicle for people to support our work.

Also, we will aim to spread risk, and we will work to maintain our independence.

We will pursue any opportunities to develop our unrestricted funding through regular giving and

continue to increase the efficiency of our fundraising operations. Ensuring synergies between our

fundraising work and the rest of our programme agenda is critical. In 2019, we generated income of

nearly £500,000 and overall SURF plans to remain an organisation at that level, which is currently

sufficient to continue to sustain our core operations and progress our core project activities.

Though enabling funds for partners, even if they are not channelled through SURF, is as critical if

not more critical than SURF raising its own funding to the strategic plan.

As part of our fundraising work we will grow restricted income for our international work through

managing our relations with key institutional funders, such as DFID, and aim to seek to secure new

funders – those based in the UK, as well as those based internationally too.

10. Human Resources

Survivors Fund (SURF) works as a small high performing team that focuses on inspiring quality

and results oriented action. The model is based on maximising our human resources in Rwanda

which are on the frontline supporting the delivery of the work, with a part-time resource in the UK.

People make SURF what it is and could become in the future; be they governance, staff, volunteers

or supporters. We continue to strive for best practice in how we manage our human resources

through non-salary benefits such as health insurance, maternity cover, paid holidays and

severance all above the statutory minimum in Rwanda.

We will do more to improve the governance of the organisation and carry out annual reviews of

performance. We will invest more in our staff in our Rwanda office to ensure we have high levels of

professionalism and efficiency, united by making a difference to the lives of survivors and related

vulnerable persons in Rwanda.

We will strive to reach greater communities and target groups to encourage them to engage with

SURF. We will value all our staff and will reward people for the difference they are making in

delivering our mission.


11. Finance and Risk Management

We maintain close control of our finances and invest in financial systems that are robust and

provide management information that improves our efficiency and effectiveness. We monitor and

manage risk to identify and mitigate any issues as early as possible.

The financial framework will support the costed consolidated work plans of SURF UK & Rwanda.

The accounts of our UK and Rwanda offices are consolidated, and each year we commission an

external audit of our consolidated accounts. The approved accounts are filed on time to Companies

House and the Charity Commission.

The risk register is regularly reviewed and when necessary updated. We ensure that there are

rigorous procedures and policies in place, including on safeguarding, whistleblowing and anti-

fraud.

12. Monitoring and Evaluation

SURF actively monitors all projects and continues to practice an overall participatory programme

review with our partners every year. The strategic plan is regularly reviewed, and the performance

of the organisation assessed against the framework.

SURF ensures the external evaluation of all principal projects its supports, where funds are

available, and publishes these externally on our website. Learnings from the evaluations are

reviewed and where possible implemented to improve our future performance.

Performance monitoring highlights progress in implementing the three-year strategic plan. The

CEO of SURF reports progress against our key targets at each meeting of the Board of Trustees.

The SURF Annual Review also provides evidence of the difference we are making.

Appendix 1

Theme Target Outcomes Outputs Indicator Where are we now

(2018-2020)

Where we hope to be

(by 2023)

Min. Budget

Direct support to

rebuild lives

By 2023 we will

secure

sustainable

livelihoods for

survivors and

related vulnerable

persons through a

focus on income

generating

activities,

entrepreneurship

and employment

Increase the number

of survivors and

related vulnerable

persons with secure,

sustainable livelihoods

Support access to

entrepreneurship and

employment

programmes for young

survivors and children

born of rape in

particular through

vocational training

Enable more survivors

and related vulnerable

persons to access

training and loans to

pursue income-

generating activities

Strengthen the capacity

of the partners to develop

and deliver IGA

programmes

Number of new IGA

projects; Number of

survivors supported, and

IGA groups established

- 65 new IGA projects

- 3,747 survivors

supported through IGAs

- 157 IGA groups

established

- 70 new IGA projects

-4,500 survivors

supported through IGAs

-200 IGA groups

established

£600,000

Research new IGA

opportunities and

develop proposals with

partners

Number of IGA proposals

developed and funded

3 major IGA proposals

funded: SEP, EVWEP,

EVKEP

4 major proposals to be

funded

Provide technical support

and monitoring for IGAs

Number of visits made to

the SURF partners and

beneficiary IGA

businesses

72 visits in total. 2 visits

each quarter

72 visits. We plan to

keep the same level of

visits to partners

Support the transition of

young survivors, and

other vulnerable young

persons to TVET

opportunities

Number of youth

sponsored to attend

TVET

150 youth sponsored to

attend TVET

We aim to provide

access to TVET to 250

youth born of genocide

rape

Development of

employment and

entrepreneurship

programmes with young

survivors

Number of young people

support to set up a

business or to secure a

job

Since ELE concluded in

2018 we have only

supported around 100

young people into

employment or business

We aim to support 500

young people to either

set up a business or

secure a job



(2018-2020)

Where we hope to be

(by 2023)

Min. Budget

Direct support to

rebuild lives

By 2023 we will

improve the well-

being of survivors

and related

vulnerable

persons through a

focus on mental

health provision,

memorialisation

and physical

health education

Improve the well-being

of more survivors and

related vulnerable

persons

Secure greater access

to counselling for

survivors, and related

vulnerable persons

Ensure that survivors,


persons, can fully

memorialise the

genocide

Increase uptake of

physical activity by

survivors, and related

vulnerable persons

Identify and engage new

partners to support

essential services for

survivors

Number of new partners

and grants secured

4 - Addax & Oryx,

Clifford Chance, LAF

Rwanda, Network for

Africa

To maintain 3 of these

new major partners,

and to secure 3 new

ones

£200,000

Research and educate on

the sensitivities of

delivering essential

services to survivors

Number of relevant

studies commissioned

1 major study was

conducted on phone-

based counselling

We aim to conduct 2

studies one on mental

health and the other on

entrepreneurship

Advocate and raise funds

for effective and

expansive mental health

provision for survivors

Number of survivors

helped; Number/Value of

grants secured

15,620 received mental

health services through

funding principally from

N4A and Puebla

We plan to continue

phone-based

counselling and reach

20,000 beneficiaries

Sustain the Counselling

Helpline and Community

Counselling Initiative

Number of survivors

helped

487 received counselling

through the CCI, 12,000

accessed phone-based

counselling

300 women and 200

youth to have access to

CCI

Develop new

programmes which

promote physical activity

for survivors

New funding from Comic

Relief in partnership with

Shooting Touch for a

physical activity project

5,000 survivors to have

improved access to

physical activity through

new projects such as

with Shooting Touch



(2018-2020)

Where we hope to be

(by 2023)

Min. Budget

Direct support to

rebuild lives

By 2023 we will

reduce the

vulnerability of

survivors and

related vulnerable

persons through a

focus on decent

housing, food

security and

elderly care

Reduce the number of

vulnerable survivors


persons in need

Secure greater access

to care of older

survivors and related

vulnerable older

persons

Increase the number

of survivors and

related vulnerable

persons with decent

housing

Improve the food

security of survivors


persons

Increase number of

livestock (cows, goats,

chickens, pigs) gifted

to survivors

Strive to raise and

advocate for funding to

build new homes, and

renovate dilapidating

housing for vulnerable

survivors

Number of homes

renovated/built; Number

of survivors helped with

secure shelter

- 13 houses were

renovated

- 52 households were

helped to secure shelter

- We will renovate 15

homes for survivors

- 100 households to be

helped to secure

shelter

£150,000

Raise awareness of the

needs of older survivors

and to support projects

for new communities

Number of older survivors

housed in older person

communities for which

SURF and partners

helped to advocate

This is a new area of

work for us

- 250 older survivors to

be relocated and

housed in new

communities over the

reporting period

Raise funding for kitchen

gardens for survivor-

headed household and

where required hardship

grants for nutritional

support

Number of survivors

having improved food

security as a result to

improved access to

nutritious food

490 households received

hardship support through

CERP, and 160

households have kitchen

gardens through EVSEP

To increase number of

households with

kitchen gardens to 250

over the reporting

period

Raise funding for

essential household

items (such as solar

lamps and clean

cookstoves) for survivor-

headed households

Number of survivors with

more affordable, healthy

and sustainable energy

source

Over 500 survivor-

headed households have

received either a solar

lamp or clean cookstove

over the reporting period

A further 500 survivor-

headed households to

receive a solar lamp or

clean cookstove

Provide more livestock to

survivor-headed

households principally

through the Good Gifts

programme

Number of survivor-

headed households

receiving livestock

through a SURF

programme

Over 1,000 survivor-

headed households have

received livestock from

Good Gifts or other

project (such as CERP)

A further 1,000

survivor-headed

households to receive

livestock



(2018-2020)

Where we hope to be

(by 2023)

Min. Budget

Advocacy and

Capacity Building

to sustain

support

By 2023 we will

have enabled

survivor

organisations to

be more

sustainable for the

long term

Ensure that more


vulnerable persons

have access to legal

representation

Raise awareness of

the need for justice for


vulnerable persons

Mainstream rights of

survivors and

vulnerable groups into

national development

policies

Support our partner

survivor’s organisations

to develop new

partnerships

Number of new

partnerships established

by partners

1 major new partner for

AVEGA - GIZ

We will work with

partners to secure 2

new partners

£200,000

Pilot new approaches to

revenue generation in

Rwanda, and support our

partners to do so too

Additional revenue

generated by partner

organisations

No flagship new

approaches developed


We will work to develop

the Demo Farm to

generate income

Work with partner

organizations to develop

and secure funding for

new social enterprises

Number of new partner

social enterprises

developed

No major funding for

social enterprises

secured over the

reporting period

We will consult with

partners to determine

support needed in this

area of work

Develop strategies that

ensure core funding to

sustain SURF’s support

to partners

Value of new unrestricted

funding generated by

SURF

Majority of new

unrestricted funding

came from legacies and

the Haines Trust

Continue to promote

legacy giving, and

sustain partnership with

Haines Trust

Train, develop and

support the staff of

SURF, and the staff of

our partners

Number of trainings

attended, and number of

participants

CEO and SURF Rwanda

staff have regularly

attended training

sessions of their choice

each year

Maintain the

professional

development budget for

SURF Rwanda staff

Ensure effective

governance of SURF,

and strengthen the

governance of our

partners

Number of board

meetings held, and

partner meetings

4 board meetings are

held each year, and 3

partners meetings

Maintain the same level

of 4 board meetings

each year, and 3

partners meetings



(2018-2020)

Where we hope to be

(by 2023)

Min. Budget

Advocacy and

Capacity Building

to sustain

support

By 2023 we will

have improved the

enforcement of

rights and legal

representation of

survivors and

vulnerable groups

in Rwanda

Ensure that our key

partners are

generating more

revenue

Strengthen the

capacity of SURF to

deliver the support

requested by partners

Develop new

partnerships in

strategic areas to

deliver financial

security in the long

term

Support the

organisational

development of our

local partner

organisations

Work with partner

organisations to develop

and secure funding for

new legal programmes

Number of relevant

proposals submitted;

Value of new funding

secured

Principal new funding for

legal work was raised

from the Legal Aid Forum

with AERG

Opportunity to reapply

to LAF Rwanda, and

secure new funding

from Clifford Chance

£150,000

Develop the capacity of

partners to ensure that


vulnerable persons are

fully included in NSPS

Number of sector working

groups meetings

attended

18 meetings attended


We will maintain our

attendance to Justice

and Social Protection

sector working group

meetings.

Actively rebut and

respond to genocide

denial

Number of opportunities

taken to rebut genocide

denial

We have posted relevant

news on our website and

social media channels

We will maintain our

work to actively rebut

genocide denial

through our comms

Develop partnerships

with international

organizations to advocate

for the rights of survivors

and vulnerable persons in

Rwanda

Number of new

partnerships established

We have maintained our

partnerships with

organisations such as

Redress and opinion

formers such as Noam

Schimmel

We plan to maintain

these partnerships, and

seek to engage new

ones as and when

opportunities arise to

do so

Support survivors and

related vulnerable

persons to bring legal

cases

Number of survivors

supported; value of legal

awards

- 1,379 legal cases

supported

- 755 cases resolved

successfully

We hope to increase

our work in this area to

support 12,000 legal

cases

Support initiatives aimed

at enforcing awards of

compensation to

survivors made at gacaca

Number of survivors

supported; value of

restitution secured

253 cases related to

gacaca were enforced

We will support

advocacy work for

compensation through

gacaca enforcement of

a further 200 cases



(2018-2020)

Where we hope to be

(by 2023)

Min. Budget

Communications Recognition of the vital

work of Survivors Fund

(SURF) in supporting

survivors of the genocide

against the Tutsi in

Rwanda

Greater awareness of

the work of Survivors

Fund (SURF) around

the world, especially in

the UK, US and

Rwanda.

Show the difference we

make, through our

Annual Review

Annual review and

website

An annual report has

been published each

year, and the website

continues to be updated

Maintain annual

reporting and

development of new

content for the website

£20,000

Through our website and

social media, mobilize

individuals into becoming

active long-term SURF

supporters

Number of new

supporters; number of

unique website visitors,

facebook likes and twitter

followers

Currently around 50

regular donors, 1,500

unique visitors to the

website each month,

1,000 twitter followers,

1,089 facebook followers

To improve the number

of new donors by 25%,

to increase web traffic

by 50%, as well the

number of facebook

and twitter followers

To secure coverage of

our work through online,

print and broadcast

media

Number of media hits Approximately 2 major

pieces of major media

coverage a year

To maintain levels of

media coverage for

SURF, but to increase it

with Foundation

Rwanda coverage

Documents

SURF Strategic Plan · 2021. 1. 5. · SURF Strategic Plan 2021 – 2023 (14th December 2020) 3 | P a g e Executive Summary Survivors Fund (SURF) works to deliver, fundraise and advocate